# AF LVC Operational Training (LVC-OT) — Program Element 0801380F

**Program element:** 0801380F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0801380F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding falls 30% to a $23.5M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. CACI leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 24.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 33.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 23.5 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 24.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 24.7 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 25.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 25.7 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 23.5 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 23.5 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 23.5 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 23.5 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 675135 | Warfighter Readiness | 15.0 | 16.2 | 12.1 | −25% |
| 674567 | Modeling and Simulation Foundations - MSF | 9.0 | 17.3 | 11.3 | −34% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 675135 — Warfighter Readiness

Project 675135, Warfighter Readiness, develops and supports a software tool named Command & Control Simulation Environment for Training (C2SET). C2SET will be the authoritative representation of USAF and Joint theater-level air and space power training to Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) warfighters and Combatant Commanders' battle staffs. C2SET delivers realistic models and tools representing the tactical and operational capabilities the USAF brings to the joint fight. The goal is delivering a fully scalable and more scientific based modeling, simulation, and training stimulation to the users. C2SET will replace legacy model called Air Force Modeling & Simulation Training Toolkit (AFMSTT) with the proven Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) and/or similar models. AFMSTT entered sustainment in FY 2021 and continues to receive operational updates to maintain operational currency until fully replaced by C2SET and depreciated. C2SET includes several complimentary initiatives: Warfighter and Joint Training Integration supports the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF) directed Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) integration efforts and is a critical piece to the USAF's implementation of the Strategic Plan for Transforming DoW Training. The goal of LVC training and mission rehearsal is to prepare our warfighters for the full range of military operations and maintain the combat readiness levels required by the Combatant Commands. This can only be accomplished by training and rehearsing in realistic operational environments. These environments include live training ranges and virtual simulators enhanced with constructive entities. Specific training and mission rehearsal events can include some or all of these simultaneously; making the ability to integrate LVC capabilities a necessity. The Air, Space, and Cyberspace Constructive Environment (ASCCE) is the USAF's authoritative federation of constructive to the Combined Forces Air Component Commander (CFACC).

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** AFLCMC (2.2, 18%), AFLCMC/FZA (1.4, 11%), 45th TS/TG (0.2, 1.9%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Command & Control Simulation Environment for Training (C2SET) | 15.0 | 16.2 | 12.1 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 674567 — Modeling and Simulation Foundations - MSF

Project 674567, Modeling & Simulation Foundations, develops and supports a software tool named Air, Space and Cyberspace Collaborative Environment - Information Operations Suite (ACE-IOS). ACE-IOS is used during major theater exercises to provide realistic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare (EW), information operations (IO), and cyber effects simulation. ACE-IOS is part of the cyber live-virtual-constructive (LVC) environments for use during Joint training of offensive and defensive ISR/cyber capabilities for the USAF, DoW, select coalition, and national agencies. ACE-IOS is also used at Air Force and Joint ISR operational training, conducted by the AF simulation centers worldwide. Warfighters train using ACE-IOS models and simulations with specific extensions in support of the United States Air Force (USAF) ISR schoolhouse. Robust ACE-IOS modernization is imperative to ensure that air, space, and cyberspace training and mission rehearsal activities can provide warfighters with realistic, interoperable, and readily available tools, data, and services. Planned ACE-IOS enhancements support of the users at mod-sim centers for multi domain capability and the USAF ISR schoolhouse. Specific cyber effects software extensions are required for warfighter training and exercising of tactical cyber mission forces (CMF).

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** CACI (10.2, 90%), AFLCMC (1.2, 10%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air, Space and Cyberspace Constructive Environment - Information Operations Suite (ACE-IOS) | 9.0 | 17.3 | 11.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 65% | 15.2 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 2.3% | 0.5 |
| Other / unspecified | 33% | 7.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** CACI ($10.2M, 43%), AFLCMC ($3.4M, 14%), AFLCMC/FZA ($1.4M, 5.9%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Air Force Live Virtual Construct Operational Training (AF LVC-OT) program develops and supports modeling and simulation software used within USAF operational training and exercises. LVC-OT directly improves Joint and USAF core warfighter readiness by ensuring training and mission rehearsal activities are realistic, readily available, and interoperable with other related training and simulation programs. The LVC-OT program includes two complementary and interrelated projects: Project 674567, Modeling & Simulation Foundations, develops and supports a software tool named Air, Space and Cyberspace Collaborative Environment - Information Operations Suite (ACE-IOS).

The Acquisition goals of the Command & Control Simulation Environment for Training (C2SET) are achieved through incremental development of the project's Modeling and Simulation (M&S) activities; all contracts are awarded using full and open competition. C2SET operates under authority of a Software Acquisition Pathway following DoDI 5000.87, Operation of a Software Acquisition Pathway Guidance. The desired end state is continuous delivery of all C2SET software.

## Related program elements

- [0601121A — Cyber Collaborative Research Alliance](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601121A) (Army)
- [0305114F — Air Traffic Control System](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305114F) (Air Force)
- [0603122D8Z — Combating Terrorism Technology Support](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603122D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604270F — Electronic Warfare Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604270F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0801380F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0801380F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*